Paul White has been involved in the hot rod and custom scene since the early '60s with plenty of cool builds to his credit. Having been a fan of late '40s and early '50s era Oldsmobile convertibles since his boyhood, it was only a matter of time until one landed at his doorstep.

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Close to a decade ago, Paul located a fairly solid 1949 Oldsmobile Futuramic 88 convertible and made a deal for the car. With fewer than 5,500 examples of the model produced it is considered a somewhat rare classic. As owner of Back Bay Customs (recently re-branded and originally known as Extreme Rod & Custom) in Portland, Maine, he knew the car was a perfect candidate for transformation. Paul's formula for creating noteworthy customs is simple and, at the same time, intricate. It combines subtle lines with a wicked stance, while infusing plenty of power and cutting edge technology into the mix. It's a blueprint that works well for Back Bay Customs, having turned out many memorable rides over the years. Once the drop-top was hauled into the shop and blown apart, it was time for the team to get busy with the car's metamorphosis.

To lay the belly of the beast on the ground, Alan Berry, at Back Bay Customs, was called on to create a rock solid base that would integrate all of the technology required to get the project rolling. Starting with 2x4-inch rectangular steel tubing he laid out the chassis incorporating all of the driveline and suspension mounting points and required crossmembers. Designing everything from scratch allowed Berry to adapt just the right combination of components into the mix. To make the car handle like it was glued to the pavement, he fabricated one-off upper and lower control arms to form the independent front suspension that was then matched to Corvette C4 spindles and RideTech ShockWave shocks. Out back he fabricated the independent rear suspension's upper and lower control arms and matched them to reversed front Corvette C4 spindles and RideTech ShockWave shocks. With the suspension dialed it, it would take a dramatic combination of wheels and tires to give the car its stance and for this Paul called on Colorado Customs for a set of their nostalgia-fueled Sugar City wheels, which were wrapped in ultra-low profile Goodyear Eagle F1 rubber. To make sure there was plenty of stopping power, an ECI master pushes fluid to Corvette C4 disc brakes incorporated at each corner. Throughout the design process Paul was determined to keep an Oldsmobile mill nailed to the 'rails, which left him with an interesting quandary. With the car being so cutting edge in its execution he would need to come up with something so over the top that it would become one of the car's main focal points. Having been mesmerized by the fire-breathing engine combination Shelby American installed in their Series 1 Cobras, it was obvious one of their race-prepped L47 Oldsmobile Aurora DOHC V-8s would get the nod. Tweaked by the team at Shelby with custom ground cams and numerous other details, it was then topped with a Bosch Motorsports EFI system. To give the engine even more kick, it was wrapped up with a Vortech centrifugal supercharger linked to a Back Bay Customs designed intercooler. A set of dazzling valve covers from Cadillac Hot Rod Fab and a swoopy Back Bay Customs air cleaner complete the visual impact under the hood. With the engine mounted in a north-south configuration, it was linked to a torque tube and mated to an RBT ZF six-speed transaxle to handle the gear changes and add just as much wow-factor to the rear of the car.

3/13What isn't coated in Fiesta Maroon icing is either polished or plated. The Aurora V-8 stands out with its finned valve covers, Vortech centrifugal supercharger, and clean presentation void of any miscellaneous wiring. The crowning touch is the seductive air cleaner by Back Bay Customs.

Focusing on the exterior, it was time for countless dramatic changes to get mapped out and for some hard-core metal voodoo to commence. Since the car was obviously top heavy and in need of some serious nip and tuck, the road map of custom updates began with a healthy 4-inch chop to the windshield and top to get the re-proportioning underway. The body was then channeled 4 inches to bring it even closer to the ground when the ShockWave's were deflated. With this completed the team focused on streamlining and sculpting the vintage steel. The redesign of the front end began with the team pancaking the hood starting with a 2-inch cut up front working to 0 inch at the rear. They nipped 3-1/2 inches from the front of the hood where it meets the grille along with an additional 2 inches taken from where the top grille bar will come into play and completed it all with 1-1/2 inches removed at the parking light. The body sides were then wedge-sectioned 3-1/2 inches rearward, wrapping up with the wheelwells being moved the same amount and the trunk lid being wedge-sectioned 1-1/2 inches. A sculpted rear roll pan, shaved and tucked bumpers, and a custom front bumper centersection seals the deal.

7/13The rear of the car was treated to a wedge-sectioned trunk lid and custom roll pan, while the bumper has been shaved and tucked. Brilliant plating was done by Pauls Custom Chrome.

To bring all of the custom fabrication to fruition, Boyan Illinov at Back Bay Customs got busy dialing in all of the updates with flawless bodywork. He then loaded his spray gun with custom-blended Martin-Senour Fiesta Maroon and laid down glamorous coating of mile-deep vibe, bringing the car to life. The interior underwent a major transformation as well linking the now sexy exterior to a debonair business office. First the dash was streamlined and redesigned, incorporating a Shelby Series 1 Cobra instrument cluster, while a supercharger boost gauge was installed where the factory clock once ticked off minutes. A custom console, hideaway radio, and sculpted door panels add even more distinction to the mix. Late-model Dodge Magnum seats up front and a custom designed rear seat were treated to yards of butter soft fawn leather by ARS Custom Interiors of Norway, Maine, to give the car a memorable interior. In the final stages, Adam Clayman and Steven White get the nod for wiring and final assembly, working tirelessly to ensure the car would be ready for its debut at the 60th Grand National Roadster Show. The completed car oozes subtleness with a refined look that personifies the style expected from Back Bay Customs. Hearing Paul scream up the road working the Olds through its six-speed ZF transaxle easily sends a chill up your spine, proving this diehard custom guy from Maine is truly living the life!

8/13The trunk received the same attention to detail as the interior, combining leather and plush wool carpet, while the RideTech air tank was treated to just enough Fiesta Maroon gloss.